JOWAI:
When it comes to overcrowding, nothing is more affected than the footpath where instead of pedestrians walking on them, there are lines upon lines of hawkers sitting to sell their wares. Such is the case with the footpaths in Jowai.
From pictures seen, the whole length of the footpaths have been taken over by people selling second hand clothes, vegetables, etc. People passing through the area have no other option but to walk on the road, braving the oncoming traffic.
The footpath in the Iawmusiang area – the biggest market place in Jaintia Hills is being used by hawkers, while those in the Newhill area are being used as parking places.
The District Administration as well as the Jowai Municipal Board have tried to evict the hawkers from the footpaths but all in vain.
With pedestrians facing problems in commuting through the areas, it is high time that the District Administration takes necessary action for the welfare of the people as well as of the hawkers.
It may be mentioned that Jowai town has many known market places – the Iaw Chor, the Iawshyiap, and the Iawthymme which are all heavily congested.
The main market place – Iawmusiang is still under construction, with the plan to construct a new Super Market Complex started way back in 2001-2002 under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), which maintains and manages both the main Iawmusiang market and Iawthymme, has failed to complete the construction of the main market and it has always become a political or an elections issue.
It may also be mentioned that the delay for completion of the super market complex at the Iawmusiang market is also due to the farmers and small business men and women who use the footpaths to sell their wares.